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Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever.
by Betsy Bird, editor
Short Stories. What makes you laugh the hardest? Is it embarrassing stories, the grosser the better? A joke with the perfect punchline? Or maybe smart, sarcastic humor? Whatever it is, you'll find it in this collection of stories, jokes, advice, comics, and activities (mad libs, anyone?). Created by funny ladies whose names you might recognize -- such as Raina Telgemeier, Cece Bell, Rita Williams-Garcia, Jennifer Holm, and Shannon Hale -- as well as a few who might be new to you, Funny Girl is overflowing with laugh-til-you-snort comedy for all kinds of readers.
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The Bad Guys
by Aaron Blabey
Fiction. A shady-looking character beckons from the first page of The Bad Guys: it's Mr. Wolf, and he's here to tell you that everything you've heard about him being a big, bad monster is a LIE. Along with his reluctant pals Mr. Shark, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Piranha, Mr. Wolf is founding a Good Guys Club to do heroic deeds. Many of the other animals, however, are too scared to appreciate their help, and Mr. Snake's attempts to eat Mr. Piranha aren't exactly good for morale… Part graphic novel, part early chapter book, this series opener is bursting with wit, energy, and laugh-yourself-silly slapstick.
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| The Unlucky Lottery Winners of Classroom 13 by Honest Lee and Matthew J. GilbertFiction. In what's meant to be a generous decision, lottery-winning teacher Ms. Linda LaCrosse splits her winnings with everyone in classroom 13. That means a billion dollars EACH! With that much cash, the options for spending are endless, and though some of the kids' purchases seem cool -- Jayden clones himself, Emma buys tons of cats, and Dev builds a video-game world -- each of them goes outrageously, hilariously wrong. Unlike the characters, fans of this illustrated chapter book series are in luck: book two, The Disastrous Magical Wishes of Classroom 13, will be on shelves in September. |
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| Orphan Island by Laurel SnyderFiction. "Nine on an island, orphans all, any more the sky might fall." Those are the rules. Each year, a boat delivers a new youngest child to the island and takes away the Elder, so that there are always nine orphans to share the cabins, the shabby books, and the food they gather from nature. When it's Jinny's turn to be the Elder, however, she decides to challenge the rules -- but is she ready to deal with the consequences? Anyone who's ever doubted the way things are done will relate to rebellious Jinny, while the mysterious island will leave you with lots of fascinating questions to talk about. |
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Beyond the Bright Sea
by Lauren Wolk
Historical Fiction. Twelve years ago, baby Crow was rescued from the water near Cuttyhunk Island, and she's lived on the island ever since. Though most of the islanders shun her, Crow has a loving home with her adoptive father Osh and their friend Miss Maggie. When a fire appears on the nearby abandoned island of Penikese, Crow's curiosity about her birth family is ignited, and she sets out in search of answers. Set in 1920s Massachusetts, this poetic and bittersweet tale of family history, hidden pirate treasure, and other long-buried secrets might make you want to go on a searfaring adventure of your own.
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Focus on: Canadian Authors |
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Jacob's landing
by Daphne Greer
Fiction. Coping with the recent death of his father, twelve-year-old Jacob Mosher is sent to spend the summer with his aging, estranged (and strange!) grandparents in a rural seaside town. Reluctantly, he trades the security of his foster mum and a big city for a blind grandfather, Frank, who dresses like a sea captain and conducts flag-raising ceremonies, and a quirky grandmother, Pearl, who sometimes forgets her dentures. Jacob has two short months to figure out how to deal with his ailing grandfather, the surging river tides and the family secret that's haunting his newfound grandparents.
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| Blue Mountain by Martine LeavittAnimal Fantasy. With humans moving closer and closer to bighorn sheep territory, young Tuk knows it's time to lead his herd to the safety of the legendary blue mountain, where no humans live. To survive the journey (which includes encounters with humans, wolves, bears, steep paths, and dangerous bogs), Tuk will need to rely not only on his courage, but also on bighorn knowledge passed down through the generations. Told in the poetic, exciting style of traditional folk tales, this "timeless yet fresh" (Kirkus Reviews) book will appeal to fans of animal survival stories such as Kenneth Oppel's Silverwing Saga or Jean Craighead George's Ice Whale. |
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Scenes from the epic life of a total genius
by Stacey Matson
Fiction. In the sequel to A Year in the Life of a Total and Complete Genius, Arthur Bean embarks on what he hopes will be the best year any eighth-grader has ever had, but he is soon dismayed when his seemingly perfect life, complete with a BFF and a girlfriend, starts going off the rails with more drama than he could have imagined.
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| The Nest by Kenneth OppelFantasy/Horror. Steven's baby brother is sick, and while his whole family is worried, Steven is having dreams about an eerie winged creature who promises to help. At first he thinks the creature might be an angel, but as her behavior becomes more alarming -- and the unusual wasp nest on Steven's house grows larger -- Steven realizes that something more sinister than illness is threatening his family. While it begins as a realistic story, The Nest steadily grows creepier, building to a breathless, terrifying climax. For a less disturbing look at a similar situation, pick up David Almond's Skellig. |
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Heart of a champion
by Ellen Schwartz
Historical Fiction. Ten-year-old Kenny (Kenji in Japanese) worships his older brother, Mickey (Mitsuo), a baseball hero whose outstanding performance on the Asahi baseball team has given him fame and popularity. Despite Kenny's suspected heart condition, he is determined to practice secretly with Mickey so he, too, can one day try out for the Asahi. But world events soon overtake life in this quiet community. When Japan attacks Pearl Harbor in 1941, everything for Kenny and his family spirals out of control: schools are closed, businesses are confiscated, fathers are arrested and sent to work camps in the BC interior and mothers and children are relocated to internment camps. When Mickey is arrested for a small act of violence, Kenny manages to keep his family's spirits up, despite the deplorable conditions in camp. Coming across a "vacant" field covered with scrap wood, broken shakes and torn tar paper, Kenny gets permission to clear it and convert it into a baseball field. One by one, the boys in the camp pitch in, and the work gives purpose to their long days. Kenny's persistence, hard work and big dreams shape the teen he is to become in this story of happiness found despite all odds.
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| The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden by Emma TrevayneFantasy. The note on the body ends with a warning: "Tell no one!" As grave robbers in Victorian England, 11-year-old Thomas and his father have dug up a lot of bodies, but this one is unusual -- not only because of the note, but because it looks just like Thomas, right down to his birthmark. Determined to find the truth about the identical boy, Thomas is soon tangled up in a bizarre mystery involving faeries, spirits, séances, and secrets. Like Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, this creepy yet whimsical fantasy oozes with suspense. |
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Avis Dolphin
by Frieda Wishinsky
Historical Fiction. Avis Dolphin doesn't want to sail to England on the Lusitania . War is raging in Europe, and the Germans threaten to sink the ship. Avis is lonely and afraid until she meets a kindly professor whose stories of a magical island help her face an uncertain future. When the Lusitania is attacked, Avis must draw on all her newfound strength to cope with the confusion, terror and despair. How can she survive the sudden devastation of the ship? Will the people she cares about, especially the professor, live through the horror and danger? The immediacy of Frieda Wishinsky's voice engages readers in this thrilling story based on real events. Set against a background of growing anxiety, readers are glued to the dramatic unfolding events and the surprising fate of the people they have come to know. Willow Dawson's art depicts the stories the professor tells Avis in enchanting graphic-novel form. They provide a riveting magical element to the story, creating a story-within-a-story. Like Avis, readers will fall in love with Foula and will dream of the island long after they have reached the last page of this exciting story.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact the Guelph Public Library at (519)-824-6220, 100 Norfolk Street Guelph, ON N1H 4J6
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